Centrifugal roundabout



v 1,643 097 Sept A. A. STEWART ET AL CENTRIFUGAL ROUNDABOUT Filed Oct. 11, 1926 Fig. 4.

gw'uentozq ArchzleA.Jtewart C John J-Ld'ewart affouwq Patented Sept. 20, 1927.

STA E CENTRIFUGAL ROUNDABOUT.

A'pp1icati0n filed. October 11, 1926. Serial No. 140,826.

, 'Our invention relatesto improvements in centrifugal roundabouts, and the object of our improvements is to supplya device of this class of a simple construction and wherein the. centrifugally deflected carrier is rotated about the aXis of the device by means of operating means mountedupon the carrier. i This object we have accomplished by the means which are hereinafter described and claimed, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that various modifications may be made in the mechanisms of the device without departing from the invention or the scope of our claims.

In said drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation ofsaid device, and Fig. 2 is an elevation thereof looking toward its axis. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of one of the horizontal radial arm members, showing the manner of mounting an end sheave thereon with its angular relation to the pivotal connection of the carrier hangers.

'The numeral 1 denotes a tubular metal axial standard whose lower end may be atvfixed to a solid base. 7 notes a slidable sleeve mounted upon said standard or axis 1 and releasably secured thereon by a: setescrew 8 for vertical adjustments. The numeral 3 denotesanother sleeve mounted loosely upon the standard spaced vertically from the sleeve 7, and carries a f *pair of spaced rigid horizontal and radial arm members 2 projecting away from the upper part of the standard to be rotated around it by mechanism to be described. a From anothersleeve 6 mounted loosely upon p the standard 1 and resting upon the adjustable sleeve 7 projects brace-bars 4 the members of which areinclined upwardly and bolted to the outer end parts of the.

members 2. A pair of struts 5 are bolted to the members 2 and 4, .extending vertically at their ends spaced in parallel-from said standard. Immediately above the loose sleeve 3 a hub 9 is secured adjustably upon the standard 1 by means of a set-screw 10, and this hub carriesa coaxial integral relatively large chain-gear sheave 11 which is thus adjustable vertically upon the standard, but is fixed thereto. It will be seen that by loosening the two set-screws 10 and 8, the arm 2 and said sheave ll'may be The numeral 7 deshifted up or downthe standard 1 to differently adjusted positions.

The outer end parts 2 of the arm mem bers 2 are bent oppositely to thus provide furc'ations inclined toward each other but separated at their ends which are bent to dependingly from or to said standard 1 under the influences of centrifugal force or gravity respectively. As shown in Fig.

2, the oppositely directed parts 17 are apertured to seat the upper ends of a pair of depending parallel tubular hangers 18 whose upper ends are exteriorly threaded to seat adjustable nuts 20 and 21 below and above said parts 17 to permit of vertical adjustments of the hangers. The lower ends of the hanger tubes 18 are removably mounted in threaded sleeves or sockets 22 fixed on thehorizontal part of a flat bar 23 whose outer longer limb 24 is bent upwardly slopingly. A seat 26 is adjustably mounted upon said sloping bar part 24 by means of a bolt 32 passed through any of longitudinally alined. holes 31 in said bar, andsecured by a nut 25. From the horizontal part of the bar 23 midway between the hangers 18 fixedly depends a forked member 27 whose furcations are apertured in line to seat a short horizontal shaft 28, radially directed from said standard 1, and having fixed thereon the hub of a chain-gear pinion 3O immediately below the hangers 18. The shaft 28 has oppositely disposed end cranks 29 whose end members are located for pedaling.

. The numeral 13 denotes like chain-gear idlers mounted rotatably upon stud axes 14 (see Fig. 4:) fixed upon the outer faces of the inclined arm parts 2 so that the idlers are set angularly upon the arm parts with relation to each other. These idlers have their said axes positioned a short distance inwardly upon the arm parts 2' relatively to the pintle-bolt which is seated in the apertures15, and so spaced relatively to said apertures 15 that the latter are alined transversely with the chain 12 which is seated in the circumferential grooves of said idlers and which also passes around the grooved peripheries of the pinion 30 sides of the fixed sheave 11 in line with the grooves of the idlers. It should he particu larly noted that the apertures 15 of the fur cations 2 as shown in Fig. 4, are positioned.

at angles of {i5 degrees from the axes of said idlers 13, so that being alined with the chain parts transversely, the chain cannot ride out of the circumferential grooves of the idlers, no matter how much the hangers swing outwardly under the influence of centriifugal force toward a horizontal position. If the pivotal connection 16 of these hangers is located elsewhere, the chain 12 Wlll ride oil of the idlers, so that this relative positioning of the hanger pivot bolt and the axes of the idlers is vital.

While this device is primarily designed for use by children yet it may be made of a suitable scale for adult use, and while only one arm 2 and carrier are shown, it is to be understood that one or more other arms 2 and depending carriers may be included in the combination without departing from this invention. The operator, when seated on the seat 26 may grasp the hangers 18 ahead for steadying, and then by pedaling the cranks 29 may rotate the chain-gear pinion 30 to drive the chain 12 which traverses the hollows of the tubular hangers. As the operator is seated above the bar 2% Q3, and the pinion 30 is immediately below the latter, clothing cannot become entangled in the pinion and chain. It will be understood also. that the carrier with said arm 2 is revolved around the standard 1, by the engaging of the chain links upon the recessed tread of the large fixedchain-sheave 11, and releasing therefrom around the sheave.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a centrifugal roundabout, an arm rotatablehorizontally about a fixed axis, a carrier pivotally depending from said arm to swing to and from said axis, a sheave fixed upon said axis, a sheave rotatably mounted upon said carrier, idler sheaves rotatably mounted upon said arm spaced inwardly from the pivotal connection of said carrier with their treads transversely po sitioned approximately in line with the pivotal connection at angles of approximately 4L5 degrees from the axes of the idlers, and a flexible driving member mount ed about said sheaves and said idlers.

2. In a centrifugal roundabout, an arm rotatably and vertically adjustably mounted upon a fixed axis, a carrier pivotally mounted on the outer extremity of said arm to swing to and from said axis, a chaingear sheave fixed upon said axis for vertical adjustment relative thereto, a chain-gear angles of approximately iodegrees relative" thereto, and a driving chain passed around said fixed and rotatable sheaves and about said idler sheaves.

3. In a centrifugal roundabout, an axial standard, an arm mounted rotatably upon said standard for vertical adjustments thereon, a chain-gear sheave fixed adjustably upon said standard immediately above said arm, chain-gear idlers rotatably mounted on opposite'sides'otsaid arm with their treads in line with the tread of said fixed sheave and their axes horizontal and in clined toward said arm, said arm having a termination inclined upwardly with a trans verse pivot thereon, a hanger pivotally mounted on said pivot to swing outwardly from said standard under the influence of centrifugal force, the pivot on said arm being positioned at an angle to the axes of said idlers and between the treads thereof substantially at their pitch-circles, a chaingear sheave rotatably mounted on the lower part of the hanger and having oppositely directed end cranks,a seat support fixed upon said hanger, a seat adjustably mounted upon said seat support, and a driving chain passed about said fixed and rotatable sheaves and said idlers.

4. In combination, a fixed sprocket-wheel, an arm rotatable around the axis thereof,

'a, pair of sprocket-pinions mounted on oblique axes upon said arm, a carrler suspended on the arm to swing outwardly, the treads of said pinions positioned approximately in line with the pivotal connection of said carrier with said pivotal connection at angles of approximately 45 degrees from the axes of said pinions, a shaft having end pedals and carrying a driving sprocket-wheel and rotatably mounted on the carrier, and a chain engaging said wheels and pinions. I

In testimony whereof we aifix our signatures.

ARCHIE A. STEWART. JOHN H. STEWART. 

